How a Trumpet is MadeManufacturing the bell

Traditional method of construction-beating the bell into shape with a hammer

A fan-shaped piece of brass, approximately 0.5 mm thick, is beaten into a rounded shape and the two edges are welded together. (Brass is an alloy consisting of 70% copper and 30% zinc.) In this traditional method of construction, a skilled craftsman beats the rounded tube into a bell shape using a hammer. This is a "one-off" construction method and is used for top-quality custom or "pro-model" instruments.

The hammering process

Spinning process involving power and technique

The spinning process involves pushing the bell onto the core bar using a spatula as the two are rotated together. This is extremely demanding physical labor and-like the hammering process-is carried out by the sure hand of a craftsman.

Spinning

A special metal used for bending?

In order to enable the bell stem to maintain its roundness when it is bent, a special metal is poured into it beforehand. The stem is then bent into shape when the metal has cooled and hardened.

U-bend

Bending the bell stem

Applying a logo to the finished bell

Finally, the Yamaha logo is precisely applied to the bell by computer.